My column about homelessness (“It takes a lot of strength to survive homelessness,” published on August 18th) brought comments from both sides of most social arguments.
On one side is the idea that people should be doing a lot more for themselves than they do. On the other side is the argument that conditions in society make it almost impossible to exercise personal choice.
One reader, Mary, tells what I would see as a story of extraordinary resilience.
The crash came just as she had left salaried employment to focus on a portfolio of properties. “My property portfolio went from millions in the positive to a valuation that would see the banks get back all their money and leave me penniless and homeless, or worse.
“To avoid such a calamity, since 2009 I have moved house on average seven times per annum. I have lived for much of the summers/autumns in a converted garden shed (with no planning permission). I did this so my children could go to college and I could eat, pay my bills and the interest on mortgages . . . I have never thought anyone was responsible for housing me or my children, other than me. I have moved from a house worth millions to a converted garden shed, to a rural dwelling worth less than €35,000. Using everything I had, doing laundry and baking and cleaning from a small abode (half the size the planners think is minimum standard), I have made ends meet all this time.
“I never felt I had a choice but to do this, and I in no way feel a victim for having to make those choices. My children came and went, and shared beds and floors as needed. In fact I feel privileged to have those small things: the shed to convert; the washing machine in working order; and finally, this year, a tumble dryer and access to the abandoned €35,000 house.
“Therefore, I fail to understand why others don’t make the choices I have made. The rural landscape is full of cheap accommodation, and at least social welfare payments would keep the wolf from the door in the short term, although I have never applied for any.”
Mary’s resilience is, I think, breathtaking. Most of us simply don’t possess that degree of resilience. Human beings come in all shapes and sizes, from those who are resilient in the extreme to those who are not resilient at all.
I hope she will find a path that will take her to some dwelling place of stability and comfort.
Ghost estates
Patrick takes the other view. “Today there are ghost estates across the country. If the Government was serious about the homeless situation, it would fast-track a plan to redeem and upgrade these housing estates and make them available to these people. We have no problem handing over vast sums of money to our IMF and EU masters so as not to upset bondholders, but yet fail miserably in looking after our own vulnerable people.”
Patrick and Mary are not as far apart as they seem. Mary went on to express the view that the decline in unionised collective bargaining is a major part of the whole problem.
“People need jobs that pay a decent wage, so they can afford to live in one place – buy or rent – with their families. I see no reason why this cannot happen, except the absence of unionised, collective bargaining for higher wages. That is the missing ingredient: and it is rich coming from me, a committed capitalist all my life, on the other side of the bargaining table in private industry all my career. There is no bargaining table any more. That is the problem.”
All of this suggests to me that the debate about the wider issues surrounding homelessness needs to be part of the national conversation. But homeless people cannot wait for that conversation to take place. First we need to take action that puts a roof over people’s heads. Then we need the debate.
pomorain@yahoo.com
Padraig O'Morain is a counsellor accredited by the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. His latest book is Mindfulness for Worriers. His daily mindfulness reminder is free by email.